Spain, U.S. promise to share anti-terror research
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano recently signed an agreement with Spanish First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba regarding scientific and technological cooperation, including sharing best practices to detect and to prevent terrorist attacks. Napolitano said during the signing that the agreement will focus on science and technology that has a direct impact on national security — with an emphasis on research, evaluation and preparation strategies to implement chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and anti-explosive protection measures.
“International collaboration in science and technology is a major part of our ongoing efforts to counter threats of terrorism,” Napolitano said during the signing. “This agreement demonstrates concrete and practical steps that the U.S. and Spain are taking to further strengthen cooperation and research while sharing cutting-edge technologies to ensure our mutual security.”
Napolitano said the agreement will support scientific and technological solutions through joint research that will fill technical capability gaps in homeland security needs. It also will support the development of technologies that help prevent national security threats through access to national laboratories and universities that conduct research, development, testing and evaluation activities for homeland security, she said.
To date, the U.S. has signed similar agreements with 11 other nations, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
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